Tommy Toy Fund: helping put presents under the tree

NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) -- A holiday tradition in eastern Connecticut is underway. Thanks to the generosity of many who have donated time and money, thousands of children will have presents under their Christmas tree.

"Three-year-old boy, eight-year-old girl, 12-year-old boy."

It's distribution day at The Bulletin in Norwich, but not for newspapers. It's the annual toy drive: the Tommy Toy Fund.

"This is nice and helpful too," Sherily Santiago said. "It helps a lot."

Santiago is among 5,000 families who have signed up to receive a bagful of gifts this year. She has a four-year-old daughter.

"I'm not working at this time and it's really hard," Santiago said. "I only have one child, but I want to give her the best. It's not easy sometimes."

"They're for little babies, they got a little disc that come in with them."

Each child is given age appropriate gifts. Everything from basketballs for boys and play sets for younger kids.

Each family also gets a game and each child gets a pair of gloves. The Bulletin has been involved with the Tommy Toy Fund since 1973. That's after a girl wrote a letter to the editor saying her mother didn't have enough money to buy Christmas presents and her little brother Tommy was too young to understand.

An act of kindness which has flourished over the years. It now takes as much as $65,000-$70,000 and help from organizations like the United Way.

"It's all donations," said Nadine McBridge, The Bulletin. "It's donations of toys, donations of money and fundraisers."

"She's gong to be excited," Santiago said.

Santiago wasn't expecting so many presents. Gifts can be picked up through Friday in Danielson, New London, and in Norwich.

"Thank you guys very much and Merry Christmas to you," Santiago said.